Repair- installing a K&K mini
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2019
- I install a K&K Mini in a customer's D-35.
reaming the hole (02:12)
tools used (04:20)
the jig (05:00)
installing the elements (07:32)
placing the element (10:20)
the jack cord (16:30)
cautions (21:08)
installing the jack (22:15)
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Playlists:
Guitar Comparisons- • Guitar Comparisons
Evaluating Guitars- • Evaluating Guitars
Guitar Repair Technique- • Guitar Repair
1970's Martins- • 1970's Martins
Shop Tools and Layout- • Shop Tools and Layout
Questions and Answers- • Questions and Answers
Just Playing- • Just Playing
Instructional- • Instructional
Mandolins- • Mandolins - เพลง
Watched a number of videos on this installation before I found this one - by far the best! Thanks loads!
the in guitar footage is extraordinarily useful
Great video and explanation of the installation. Simple and straight forward. Thanks!
Very cool. Straight forward. Easy to follow. I’m going to put one of these in my acoustic myself thanks to you. Thank you very much.
Very good video. Your straightforward way of explaining this installation instills confidence. I appreciate your taking the time to make this video.
Very cool. Very easy to follow. Thank you.
Brilliant. Perfect explanation, awesome video! Thank you!!
Thanks, Bryan! You fixed up my '72 D-18 a few years ago. I drove down from Denver to drop it off. Should have had you do the K&K then. I'm getting one in a couple weeks when in Chicago.
I was sooooo close to getting a Fishman installed.. in my 2002 S6 seagull- Thanks for the great information!!
Another fascinating video. I had a K & K installed in my 2015 HD-28 and ordered a Fishman preamp from Amazon. Took the rig to church where I play, plugged it into our sound system and it sounded TERRIBLE! Could not dial in a good sound. Went home and read the K&K instructions and learned something about impedance matching. The K&K and the Fishman preamps don't match. Sent back the Fishman and ordered a K&K premap. Been a happy camper ever since! Like you I did not not want stuff inside my guitar. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for posting, very clear instructions.
Great video. You are the person I'd want working on my guitars. Great attention to detail. Well done, sir.
Best install video on youtube, Thanks
3:37 I’m pretty confident with non-powered hand tools and reamers ever since my dad showed me how in the 1960s. Biggest lesson i learned is confidence and a steady hand, which I’m sure you’d agree with.
I use the tool I'm most comfortable and efficient with. I get tired of turning that big reamer so I use the drill. But on bridge pins, I _start_ with the drill and then finish with a hand-held reamer. The difference is that the end pin reamer has a stepped stop so you really can't go too far. The bridge pins have to FIT.
Thank you Sir very well done and explained.
Great video! I made the jig you suggested and it worked like a charm to install the KK mini in Yamaha guitar.
Cool!! Glad it helped.
Outstanding video. Thanks!
Thank you Original Brian.
you are so good at explaining the process thankyou and we can have a laugh !
Thanks!!!
your video is by far the best, I even bought the ultima drink to stay hydrated
Good choice! :)
Just installed one on my Epiphone Masterbilt this past weekend....pretty easy install and sounds fantastic.
are you using it with the preamp that sold separately or you straight to your amp
Great mate
I am thinking of getting a K&K and l was going to let my local guitar shop do it but now l will try and do it myself
Thumbs up from Australia 👍🏼🇦🇺👍🏼
Great video, thank you!
thanks for the demo, ive got one to do. cheers
About three minutes into this video I realized that I should make a list of all the lessons that you teach in this video. Two minutes later I realized I couldn’t do that because the list would be too long. Thank you so much for everything you taught me today. I feel 100% prepared to install the K & K mini in my Taylor 110.
Made me smile. Thanks.
@@Bryankimsey hello Kimsey, would a Mitchel's PlateMate interfere with the sound in any way of a k&k mini like the one you installed ? Thanks
If you're gluing the pickups to the plate itself and then, yes, because you just moved the pickup farther from the saddle and put a piece of brass between it and the wood. I don't mind the PlateMate... I've used them on my personal guitars... but never with a K&K. Personally, I'd slot the bridge and dump the PlateMate.
Perfect! Thank you
Thanks a lot for the video. I’m installing a K&K in my 2006 D35 . Probably make my own jig.
Nice, pretty straight forward also on the tip to angle it to fit in X brace, and the dead instrument plug to pull the end pin jack thru (my friend mods electric archtops and semi hollow ES style guitars and he uses same method to draw the jack for jack replacements when he's swapping out the electronics)
Great video!!!! I love that helmet cam!! lol It works great!! I was thinking of installing a K&K in a couple of my guitars. Now I know exactly which one to use & the best technique to install it. Thanks again Bryan!!!!!!!
P.S. I also dislike any & every under-saddle pickup. They do not sound good to me at all.
Excellent! Thanks much!
I was gonna let a local luthier install my K&K but he's going on vacation. No way I'm waiting 3 weeks. My Martin D28 is gonna have a litttle surgery by yours truly...
This word "vacation".... please explain. :)
"you need to always stay well hydrated" :) You rule!
Pickup installation is grueling work!
Thank you sir.
Thank for share
Such a nice old man all the love
"Old"? I can be a mean SOB, too. Here's my other channel:
th-cam.com/video/fBPzTFA4CBw/w-d-xo.html
Thanks
Супер! Большая благодарность!
Fantastic video, exactly how it should be done. Just watch one where he drilled 2 holes through the body for alignment. I could have wept.
No way!!! Seriously???
Can't thank you enough.
Thank you for this awesome video! I have a question....On my first of 3 sensors I got close to the edge of the saddle on the underside of the guitar. Will that matter in terms of sound quality? Im assuming as long as it’s secured and completely on the flat surface of the saddle inside the guitar it will work fine? I sure don’t want to have to re-position it because that would be a challenge. Please let me know.
Never mind, I paid attention I promise lol. You answered my question 22 minutes in on the video.
💯
Great video! Just one question. Does de K&k pure mini works a a strap button?
It's a standard pickup jack with a fat button... so, yes, it does.
Possible to just plug the mini (without jack) into my existing onboard fishman prefix? To replace to piezo under saddle I have?
Ask K&K. But I bet you'll have an impedance mismatch and it won't sound good.
I installed in my Stewmac Kit OM guitar, nice sound , but have feedback on 50% gain and so much bass, any remedy or advise?
You probably have a loose transducer that didn't stick.
I would like to ask a question, I installed the same set on my s6 seagull acoustic, they sound great at low volume but when you turn the volume up there is a LOUD screeching/ feedback sound, I have tried everything to solve the problem with no good results. Could you tell me what may be the problem? Thank you
No telling. Usually when that happens, a pickup element is loose and not glued on tight. And if you're too close to your speakers, you're gonna get feedback without a soundhole feedback buster. How loud is "loud"? Like... concert level?
I'm getting great natural sound results when the transducers are on soundboard just behind the bridge. Is it a bad idea to super glue these in this position?
If you are happy, go for it. Difficult to remove from spruce top, though. Be aware of that.
Question? I have a Taylor Mini GS with the Taylor ESB preamp installed. I'd like to install the Pure Mini in it. If I removed the existing pickup, would the Pure Mini work? Didn't know if you'd seen a scenario like mine or not. Thanks!
You'll hook up the K&K to the existing preamp? The impedance won't match. You'll get some sound but it might be too boomy to EQ out. You'll need to do some soldering, too.
@@Bryankimsey Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm wanting to replace the existing system and only use the K&K. Thanks!
Thanks for the great video Bryan. I want to put a K&K into a 1949 Gibson J-45. That is a narrow bridge and bridge plate. Not really enough room without a slight amount of overhang off the plate. K&K says this is acceptable but not preferred. Do you have any experience with this challenge? I've heard of some gluing a small piece of wood in as a plate extension, but really don't want to do that. Appreciate any thoughts you might have on this.
You don't have much choice. Either overhang it or glue a little extension. I've done the overhang and I've also pushed the elements off to one side or the other. 50's Martin D's are the same way... super small bridgeplate.
@@Bryankimsey thank you Bryan. BTW, how did the overhang K&K that you have done sound?
Can you use the string pegs to line up the template if you don't have the original kit?
I suppose so, but it's really nice to pull the template UP thru the pin holes and hold it while the glue sets. I think I'd come up with some golf tees, dowels, old bridge pins, bamboo skewers, pencils, or ???? before I tried pinning down from the top. Back in the day, I used to just place them by hand.
@@Bryankimsey You can just take the bridge pins out after positioning the pickup and feed them through from the underside when you put it inside the sound hole. But the chop sticks idea is better. I'm in Cambodia now...no shortage of them!
Do alterations to your guitar like reaming out the end pinhole effect the value?
To some buyers, ANYTHING affects the value. To others, who gig with the guitar and need a pickup, no. I wouldn't ream out an original, valuable guitar... I'd use a Vintage Jack. But I wouldn't gig with an original, valuable guitar anyway. I'd use a "gig guitar".
Would you alter a D28cw by reaming out the end pin?
Yes, if I was going to gig with it on a regular basis. And a CW is a great gig guitar. It's not "too valuable" but sounds great, looks great, and would be perfect for gigging.
I like your video. I should get a helmet cam. It's like we're having a good down to earth chat. But you have a lot of good tips too. I installed the middle D/G sensor a bit too close to the Low E side sensor. How do I get it loose enough to reinstall it without damaging it? I am getting a feedback from it or I would not even try to or want to at this stage. Thanks. I understand clear enough too. Thanks for a full experience story.
Oh.... it's a little tricky. Mirror in the bottom so you can see what you're doing. A 1/4" chisel. Flip it so that the angled part of the tip is on the bridgeplate. Put the tip RIGHT up against the element and HARD against the bridgeplate. Push and twist. I have about a 75% success in popping the element off w/out ruining the pickup. Then I have spare heads (being a K&K dealer....) that I can solder in to replace the ones I ruin.
Are the three pick ups differrent from each other??
No. The heads are all the same.
Please, what is that remote camera you are using?
GoPro Session 5. No longer made. Any GoPro type camera would be just fine. I use them to record dirt bike and MTB video too. :)
Hello i have a Yamaha fs800 in Argentina, currently i’m in EEUU. How do i know if i have to drill or not?
You'll need a 1/2" hole. If you have a regular tapered endpin and you can't stick your little finger all the way thru, you'll gonna have to drill.
what was the name of that step bit please
www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/reamers/endpin-jack-reamer/
Doesn't K&K ship this pickup with a plastic installation jig now?
Yes and I explain in the video why I don't use it but you can. Basically, the one they supply is adjustable. I do so many that I use a non-adjustable one and sticky putty that's reusable so I don't waste time adjusting and applying sticky paper.
suppose you wanted to remove a KK Pure Mini ... how would you do it?
With a 1/4" chisel placed firmly against the base of the pickup. Twist. I can get them off in 1 piece about 75% of the time.
@@Bryankimsey one piece...you mean they break 25% of the time? i want to sell a guitar, but keep the pickup.
That's correct. It's a thin layer of copper on top of a piece of plastic and you can _easily_ separate the two and then you've ruined the head. Me.... I have extra heads on hand and can repair them, but you have a good chance of ruining the pickup. I use a mirror, a light, and a 1/4" chisel and have done dozens upon dozens of them.
@@Bryankimsey So truth is that I may sacrifice an o-so-tiny bit of bridge plate in order to remove the transducers?
Not if you're careful. What'll happen is the chisel won't be quite hard against the bottom of the transducer (it's hard to tell, what with the wires in the way and inside the guitar, and all that) and when you pop it, the chisel will rip the foil off the base. Given the risk... honestly, I'd just get another one.
Is it possible to remove it and install it in another guitar?
Sometimes but I wouldn't count on it. I have about a 75 percent success rate. I also carry spare heads so that I can rebuild damaged ones.
@@Bryankimsey okay thanksss
Can U show an Installation on a Ukulele
If I had a uke in hand, I could. I don't. I'd probably make a hook looking jig that I could reach in with.
Hello Bryan. Enjoy your how to videos, wish you were in my area. Question...have you ever install a K&K mini in a D-28 using the K&K vintage jack pin? If yes or no I would like your opinion. The obvious reason of course to avoid enlarging the end pin to a 1/2 inch hole. Here's the link. www.kksound.com/products/vintagejack.php
Several of them. I use one in my gig mandolin and had one in the shop 72 D-18. They work fine but you have to deal with the 1/8" cable adapter. For a real gig guitar... I'd drill the hole. I drilled the hole in my #1 Proulx OM/D because it is a working instrument.
Hello Brian and thank you kindly for making so many valuable videos.
I have a question please.
I have had K&K pure mini pick-ups installed in 3 Martins. The transducers were all mounted with the wires facing forward toward the neck.
I found an amazing D-28 Marquis & took it to a new to me acoustic music shop that sold and installed the K&K with the Vintage jack.
When I got the guitar back home I noticed the acoustic tone seemed a bit less there & muffled slightly.
I removed the strings and placed a mirror inside.
I saw that the pickups were mounted with the wires facing the rear soundhole of the guitar. I was concerned.
I next noticed that the three pickup wires were all gathered together and attached to a small fastener glued to the top of the inside bout of the guitar.
The wires were pulled tightly from the pickups to the point they were attached to the top of the bout.
I pulled gently on them to relieve a bit of the tension & create a bit of slack in the wires. I felt this tightness was interfereing with the ability of the bridge plate to vibrate freely.
I restrung the guitar and noticed an improvement in the acoustic tone and the plugged in tone.
I am somewhat of a perfectionist and would like to know if I should have the transducers removed and have the K&K transducers reinstalled with the wires facing forward as I see in every installation video & the K&K instructions?
I also understand the wires are supposed to loop down toward the back of the guitar & out to the end pin & not be attached or glued anywhere inside.
I am also willing to have the wires cut & soldered together to the vintage jack so they are shortened to eliminate excessive slack?
I would buy new K&K pickups as the existing ones may be damaged when pryed off the bridge plate.
The bridge plate can also be damaged if not done very carefully.
Lastly, I noticed that small globs of squeezed out superglue were left & not cleaned away during the installation.
My thoughts are not to add any more tension on the wires coming off the bridge plate than necessary.
And not to add any more mass than necessary to the bridge plate as every little bit negatively affects vibration & tone & extra gobs of glue gathered around each transducer adds weight and is indicative of sloppy workmanship.
It is easy to remove glue squeezeout during the early part of the installation.
I highly regard your opinion.
Should I have the installation redone on my Marquis?
This is driving me nuts & I have been bothered by this since the installation was done about a year ago. I just need to know if my thoughts are credible & and I don't want to offend the shop that installed my K&K as the owner is a decent family man but I do not know the tech.
I also bought an AER amp & the best k&k preamp from them. I was just shocked and disappointed when I heard my guitar and then seen the transducers were mounted backwards. Im not trying to throw the installer under the bus or create hard feelings, but I offered to pay whatever they asked & have to ask if this is the best they could do and if you think it would be better to have the pickup removed and a new one installed & the excess glue cleaned up & the wires routed according to the K&K instructions that mirror your very good installation video.
Thank you again for any opinion you care to offer.
Best regards,
Todd
Keep your "reply" on your own thread and not another one... it's harder to find the way you did it.
Easy stuff first... I don't worry about the excess glue. You _can't_ wipe it off w/out disturbing the drying element and I like to see a little squeeze so that I know I got enough. That's not going to cause any issues. You _will_ need to clean up the old glue before you re-glue, if you go that route.
You can _sometimes_ remove the elements by using a chisel or a single sized razor blade:
umgf.com/removing-a-k-k-pure-mini-t224814.html
Contact K&K and they'll probably sell you extra heads.
I definitely prefer the wires running _forward_ to the neck and wired straight to the Vintage Jack just to eliminate excess wire in the guitar and to keep them from rattling on the back of the guitar. I just published a video on the Vintage Jack and I suggested doing exactly that.
th-cam.com/video/FRTVjo7iEYI/w-d-xo.html
Re-install is up to you but I would, at the least, wire straight to the Vintage Jack and keep them suspended in the air inside the guitar.